Hibs comfortably qualified for the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup with a 2-0 victory over Livingston at the Set Fare Arena in West Lothian this afternoon.
David Gray made six changes to the starting XI from the side that overcame FK Partizan in midweek.
Raphael Sallinger and Miguel Chaiwa both made their competitive debuts for the Club whilst Thibault Klidjé making his first start.
They were joined by Grant Hanley, Kanayo Megwa, Alasana Manneh on the bench.
Jordan Smith, Dylan Levitt, Kieron Bowie, Chris Cadden, Josh Mulligan, and Rocky Bushiri all dropped down to the bench.
Jamie McGrath and Joe Newell both missed out due to injury.
Former Hibs player Andrew Shinnie was listed amongst the Livingston substitutes.
David Martindale made two changes to the side that beat Falkirk last weekend. Daniel Finlayson and Shane Blaney came into the back four and Mo Sylla started in midfield.
Danny Wilson and Graham Carey missed out after picking up knocks, while there was no place for on-loan full-back Adam Montgomery.
The game kicked off in blistering conditions with Hibs as always taking a huge travelling support along the M8. The players wore their all black third kit.
Hibs almost opened the scoring after 30-seconds when Klidjé tried to lob the Livi keeper Jerome Prior from 20-yards but he managed to tip the ball over for a corner.
Warren O’Hora than set up Martin Boyle who raced clear down the right but his pass to Klidjé was blocked.
Former Hearts’ player Ryan McGowan was booked for a late challenge on Klidjé on the left wing. Klidjé was also booked moments later for a challenge on Shane Blaney.
Sylla was fortunate not to join them for a tug-back on Josh Campbell and a barge on Klidjé.
A third straight foul though on Campbell did result in a well deserved yellow card.
In the 25th minute Campbell almost gave Hibs the lead with a powerful half-volley but Prior produced a fine save.
At the other end Robbie Muirhead tried an acrobatic effort that flew well wide.
Chaiwa tried his luck from distance but his effort was high then Klidjé almost got on the end of a Jordan Obita cross but the danger was cleared.
Obita was booked for a pull-back near the half-way line before Manneh had a powerful volley blocked.
Just before the break Hibs won a number of corners and from the third Klidjé escaped from his marker and headed home Boyle’s corner from the left. After a brief VAR heck for offside the goal was given.
Muirhead had an early chance in the second-half but Manneh did well to clear for a corner.
On the hour mark Obita and Boyle were replaced by Nicky Cadden and Junior Hoilett.
Within seconds of coming on Hoilett should have made it 2-0 after getting on the end of a perfect through ball from the impressive Klidje but he toe poked his effort wide of the post.
Campbell was shown a yellow card for a foul on Sylla.
Klidjé made way for Elie Youan in the 67th minute and left the field to a huge and well-deserved standing ovation from the travelling fans.
Hibs almost doubled their lead when Campbell nearly got on the end of a low cross from Megwa but the ball fell to Cadden whose effort was blocked.
Hanley did well to deflect a Samson Lawal shot over the bar as the hosts started to pile on the pressure for the remaining 15-minutes.
On the 80th minute Campbell and Manneh ware replaced by Mulligan and Levitt.
Jeremy Bokila was booked for a late challenge on Megwa.
Chaiwa tried his luck from 30-yards but Prior saved easily.
Lawal was then booked for a foul on Chaiwa.
With four minutes left Hibs wrapped things up. A Cadden free-kick was cleared into the path of Mulligan who fired a tremendous 25-yard strike into the top right-hand corner of the net.
From then Hibs managed the remainder of the game comfortably and now look forward to a quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox.
Livingston: Prior, Finlayson, Blaney, McGowan, Lawal, Sylla, Tait, Pittman, Smith, Muirhead, Winter
Subs: Bokila, Hamilton, Wanner, Kabongolo, May, McLennan, Rudden, Shinnie, Yengi
Hibs: Sallinger, Iredale, Hanley, O’Hora, Obita, Chaiwa, Manneh, Campbell, Klidjé Boyle
Subs: Smitj, Bowie, Bushiri, C Cadden, N Cadden, Hoilett. Levitt, Mulligan, Youan
Attendance 4696
